1581 Braun and Hogenberg View Map of Norwich, England

Title

Description

A beautiful example of Braun and Hogenberg's 1581 view of Norwich, england. The view is based on William Cuningham's plan of 1558 and presented the city in an oblique view as seen from the northwest. Situated on the Wensum River, the city is shown with its medieval walls and the Normal Cathedral of the Holy and undivided Trinity at the center. To the right of the cathedral, on a grassy hill, is the city's castle. A key in the lower left quadrant identifies some 21 additional sites throughout. At the base of the map are two citizens of the city dressed in the regional traditional costume. The armorial crests of the city and the queen appear in the upper right and left quadrants, respectively. The baroque title cartouche appears at top, center. Braun's commentary on the city follows:

Norwich, in Latin Nordovicum or, as others like, Norvicus, is a densely populated city in england. It is roughly the shape of a taught bow: it lies on a hill, which is however not very steep, and reaches out far and wide in all directions. According to common legend two townsmen encircled the city with ring walls in the year 1374. The townsmen of Norwich are subject to the same jurisprudence, the same ceremonies and provisions in the city regiment as currently the townspeople of London.

This view was published in Braun and Hogenberg's seminal work Civites Orbis Terrarus.

CartographerS

George Braun (1541 – March 10, 1622) was a German cleric and typo-geographer based in Cologne. Along with Franz Hogenberg, Braun is best known for his publication of the highly influential city atlas Civitates Orbis Terrarum. The six volume work, with some 546 views, was published between 1572 and 1617 and intended a companion to Abraham Ortelius' Thatrum Orbis Terrarum - thus certain obvious stylistic similarities. In compiling the Civitates Braun took on the role of editor while most of the engraving work was completed by Franz Hogenberg. Braun died, as he was born, in Cologne.

Frans Hogenberg (1535 - 1590), often called 'Master Franz,' was a Flemish engraver active in the late 16th century. Hogenberg was born in Mechelen, the sone of Nicolas Hogenberg, where he trained under the cartographer H. Terbruggen. He later relocated to Antwerp where he achieved success as an engraver, working with Abraham Ortelius, Hieronymus Cock, and others. In 1568, his name appeared on the list of those banned from the Netherlands by the Duke of Alva, forcing his family to flee to London. There he engraved for Christopher Saxon's Atlas of England and Wales. By 1570 he emigrated to Germany settling in Cologne. In Cologne he married his second wife, Agnes Lomar, with whom he had six children. In 1579 the couple were briefly imprisoned for holding illicit secret religious meetings, but were released in short order. Along with German cleric George Braun, Hogenberg issued the highly influential city atlas Civitates Orbis Terrarum. The six volume work, with some 546 views, was published between 1572 and 1617 and intended a companion to Abraham Ortelius' Thatrum Orbis Terrarum - thus certain obvious stylistic similarities. In compiling the Civitates Hogenberg took on the role of engraver while most of the editing was left to George Braun. Hogenberg died in Cologne, Germany, before the Civitates was completed. After his death, Hogenberg's work was continued by his son, Abraham Hogenberg, who, under the direction of Agnes, his mother, took over his father enterprise at just 20.

Source

Braun, G., Civitates Orbis Terrarum, 1581.

Condition

Good. Some creasing along original centerfold. A couple of minor wormholes to margins. Verso repair along original fold lines larges limited to lower margin. Latin text on verso.

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